. The tribes and castes of the Central Provinces of India . veranda, or else behind. Whenan astrologer is about to found a house he calculates thedirection in which Shesh Nag, the snake on whom theworld reposes, is holding his head at that time, and plantsthe first brick or stone to the left of that direction, becausesnakes and elephants do not turn to the left but always tothe right. Consequently the house will be more secure andless likely to be shaken down by Shesh Nags movements,which cause the phenomenon known to us as an the foundation-stone or brick are buried a pice, a
. The tribes and castes of the Central Provinces of India . veranda, or else behind. Whenan astrologer is about to found a house he calculates thedirection in which Shesh Nag, the snake on whom theworld reposes, is holding his head at that time, and plantsthe first brick or stone to the left of that direction, becausesnakes and elephants do not turn to the left but always tothe right. Consequently the house will be more secure andless likely to be shaken down by Shesh Nags movements,which cause the phenomenon known to us as an the foundation-stone or brick are buried a pice, anareca-nut and a grain of rice, and it is lucky if the stonebe laid by a man who has been faithful to his wife. Thereshould be no echo in a house, as an echo is considered tobe the voice of evil spirits. The main beam should beplaced in position on a lucky day, and the carpenter breaksa cocoanut against it and receives a present. The width ofthe rooms along the front of a house should be five cubitseach, and if there is a staircase it must have an uneven. II SUPERSTITIONS ABOUT HOUSES 89 number of steps. The door should be low so that a manmust bend his head on entering and thus show respect tothe household god. The floor of the verandas should belower than that of the room inside ; the Hindus say thatthe compound should not see the veranda nor the verandathe house. But this rule has of course also the advantageof keeping the house-floor dry. If the main beam of ahouse breaks it is a very bad omen, as also for a vultureor kite to perch on the roof; if this should happen sevendays running the house will inevitably be left empty bysickness or other misfortune. A dog howling in front ofthe house is very unlucky, and if, as may occasionallyhappen, a dog should get on to the roof of the house andbark, the omen is of the worst kind. Neither the pipal norbanyan trees should be planted in the yard of a house,because the leavings of food might fall upon them, and thiswould be an insult
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